Wear OS 7 starts rolling out to recent Pixel Watches
Google says the update adds Live Updates, longer battery life and new watch features, with Gemini tools due later this year.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
Google has begun rolling out Wear OS 7 to the Pixel Watch 2, Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Watch 4, bringing new notification tools and a claimed battery improvement to its recent smartwatches. The update matters for Pixel Watch owners because it adds phone-to-watch Live Updates and lays the groundwork for Gemini features that Google says will arrive later this year.
The Verge reported that Wear OS 7 is starting its rollout today for those Pixel Watch models. Google says the software can deliver up to 10 percent longer battery life than Wear OS 6, though the company’s claim may vary by device and use.
Live Updates move to the wrist
The main visible change is Live Updates support on Wear OS devices. According to Google, ongoing information from Android, such as sports scores or the status of a meal delivery, can now appear on both a user’s phone and watch.
The feature is meant to make glanceable information more useful on a smartwatch, where users often want quick status checks without opening a full app. The Verge said Live Updates will sync between Android phones and Wear OS watches.
Gemini features are coming later
Google says Wear OS 7 will also gain Gemini Intelligence features, but those tools are not launching with the initial rollout. The company said they are planned for later this year.
One planned tool is Create My Widget, which Google says will let users make custom Wear OS widgets with natural language prompts. Google also says Gemini will be able to carry out multi-step app actions from a watch, including examples such as making a reservation or placing a restaurant order.
Google says Gemini on Wear OS 7 will receive its new “neural expressive” design. The company also says the watch version will support Personal Intelligence, a system that uses information from connected Google apps to shape Gemini’s suggestions.
Media controls, widgets and safety
Google is adding an audio output switcher for media control from the watch. The company says users will be able to move audio between connected devices, such as headphones and a Nest speaker.
Google also says smart glasses, including the type shown at Google I/O last month, will be able to connect with Wear OS 7. That connection will let users preview photos captured by the glasses on their watch, according to the company.
For app makers, Google is expanding support for Wear OS Widgets. The company says third-party developers can build widgets that are more dynamic and easier to develop than the custom Tiles system introduced in 2019.
Google says older devices that do not receive Wear OS 7 can still be supported. Developers may keep using Tiles, or their widgets can appear as full-screen tiles on Wear OS 4, Wear OS 5 and Wear OS 6, according to Google’s developer guidance.
The update also changes Emergency Sharing on Pixel Watch. Google says the feature can now automatically call a user’s selected emergency contacts, in addition to emergency services, when the watch detects a fall, loss of pulse or car crash.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.